Daily Mail

Briton in tears as she faces court for taking painkiller­s into Egypt

- By Tom Witherow t.witherow@dailymail.co.uk

A BRITISH woman who could face the death penalty for taking painkiller­s into Egypt had her case adjourned yesterday because she was too upset to speak in court.

Laura Plummer, 33, was said to be ‘unrecognis­able’ and in tears after ten weeks in a cell without a bed.

The shop worker is accused of smuggling 290 tramadol tablets into Egypt in her suitcase. Her family said the medicine was for her Egyptian partner Omar Caboo, who has severe back pain.

Her mother Roberta Sinclair, who travelled to Egypt for the Christmas Day hearing, said her daughter was being held in terrible conditions and sharing with up to 25 women.

Her sister Rachel Plummer said the judge adjourned the case for a day because of her exhausted state. ‘She’s sleep deprived, she’s visibly nervous and upset,’ she said. ‘She’s answered some questions wrong because she’s not understand­ing them, she obviously can’t think straight.

‘You can imagine the pressure – this is her life.’

She said their mother and Mr Caboo were denied access to the hearing because their driver got them to court late. Her family has been told she could face up to 25 years in jail, and one lawyer has mentioned the death penalty.

Miss Plummer’s lawyer, Dia alBassal, told the Daily Telegraph she mistakenly made a confession.

The judge asked her: ‘ You are accused of smuggling and possessing tramadol to Egypt?’

She replied ‘ Yes’ and it is understood the judge instructed the session clerk to record that as a confession.

Her lawyer said: ‘She meant that she is admitting that she had the tramadol, but not admitting of being guilty.

‘The judge jumped to the conclusion that she confesses before clarifying that she understood the question and this is worrying.’

Karl Turner, Miss Plummer’s MP in Hull, has praised the Government and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s efforts for her family.

‘I don’t think we could have asked for any more,’ he added.

‘The judiciary in Egypt is independen­t and impartial and the judge will come to a view without any outside influence.

‘The evidence is pretty clear that she didn’t know the drug was banned and she was taking it out there to help her boyfriend.’

Miss Plummer is being held in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, where she was arrested at the airport on October 9.

Her lawyer suggests that she can prove she was not planning to sell the painkiller­s because they were worth half the cost of her £300 plane ticket.

Mohamed Othman said: ‘ For someone to be found guilty of drug smuggling they have to be aware that they are possessing narcotics. Laura did not know that what she was carrying was a narcotic.’

Tramadol is banned in Egypt to stop addicts using the drug as a heroin substitute.

 ??  ?? Sleep deprived: Laura Plummer
Sleep deprived: Laura Plummer
 ??  ?? Held: Miss Plummer and Omar Caboo
Held: Miss Plummer and Omar Caboo

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